Jogging device



Dec. 14, 1955 J. H. WILSON ETAL 3,

JOGGING DEVICE Filed Feb. 14, 1963 2 SheetsSheet 1 Dec. 14, 1965 J. H.WILSON ETAL JOGGING DEVICE Filed Feb. 14, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1' S7O7|1/ f''": 63 i L J O L.. ..i 65- FIG. 7 FIG. 8

United States Patent 3,223,410 JGGGING DEVICE John H. Wilson, 2301 W.Meadow Drive, Phoenix, Ariz.;

Noland E. Vogt, Phoenix, Ariz. (2111 Camino de Los Robles, Menlo Park,Calif.); and Vahak K. Sahakian,

432 Cypress Ave., Phoenix, Ariz.

Filed Feb. 14, 1963, Ser. No. 258,505 Claims. (Cl. 271-89) The presentinvention pertains to jogging devices, and more particularly, to joggingdevices suitable for jogging documents such as bank checks, encodedcardboard cards for data processing, and other documents wherein it isdesired to align the edges of a plurality of such documents.

Prior art paper joggers usually comprise an electromagnetic means forattracting a ferromagnetic table and alternatively reversing thedirection of flux to cause the table to vibrate. The alternateattraction and release of the table, and subsequent induced vibration,causes paper documents supported by the table to be jogged" therebytending to align the edges or surfaces upon which the documents aresupported. It has been generally considered necessary, in prior art, toincrease the attraction of the electromagnet with the table, therebyincreasing the amplitude of vibration, to align documents that have atendency to adhere to each other and resist alignment. The increasedamplitude of vibration through the increasing of the electromagneticforce is usually accompanied by objectionable noise and an increase inthe vibration transmitted to the supporting table of the jogger.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide animproved jogging device.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a joggingdevice to align documents by vibrating a supporting tray through a novelflexing arrangement.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a paperjogger with increased jogging action to more readily facilitate thealignment of supported documents.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art as the description thereofproceeds.

Briefly stated, in accordance wih one embodiment of the presentinvention, a supporting tray is provided to hold documents foralignment. The supporting tray is induced to vibrate with a motion thatis a composite of a linear displacement and a rotational displacement.The linear and rotational displacements of the tray are provided by aflexible member which flexes in two modes, viz. a bending mode and atorsional mode.

The flexing member is alternately attracted and released by anelectromagnetic device placed in the proximity of the flexing device andexcited by an alternating current.

The present invention may more easily be described in connection withthe accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view, partially in section, of a jogging deviceconstructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the jogging device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top view of a flexible member suitable for use in thejogging device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a tray suitable for use with the joggingdevice of the present invention to show how documents are held forjogging.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of a flexible memberuseful for explaining the operation of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged side view of a jogging tray to show the manner inwhich the documents are jogged by the linear and rotational motion ofthe jogger of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows a modified flexible member suitable for use in the joggingdevice of the present invention.

FIG. 8 shows a composite flexible member suitable for use in the joggingdevice of the present invention.

FIG. 9 shows an alternate method forinducing torsional and bendingstress in a flexible member in the jogger of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, an electromagnet 10 of the E core type is providedwith a winding 11. The winding 11 may be connected through conductors 12to a pair of terminals 13. The terminals 13 are connected to anysuitable source of alternating current (not shown). A flexible member 15of magnetically attractable material, is positioned in the proximity ofthe electromagnet 10 and slightly displaced therefrom. The flexiblemember 15 supports an arm 16 which, in turn, supports a jogging tray 17.The arm 16 and jogging tray 17 are positioned with respect to the centerof the flexible member 15 so that the center of gravity of the weightsupported by the flexible member 15 is applied eccentrically thereto.This eccentricity is shown in FIG. 1 by the distance e.

Referring to FIG. 2, the jogging device shown in FIG. 1 may further bedescribed. The tray 17 includes a plurality of separator partitions 20to thereby define document holding spaces or wells 21.

The flexible member 15 is supported at each end thereof by a stationarybase shown diagrammatically in FIG. 2 at 25. Similarly, theelectromagnetic device 10 is supported on the stationary base. 25.

It may be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, that when the electromagnet 10 isenergized by current flowing in the coil 11, magnetic flux is induced inthe core which bridges the gap between the core and the flexible member15 tending to attract the member 15 to the core. Since the flexiblemember 15 is supported at each end thereof to a stationary base 25, theflexible member is distorted, and the motion of the distortion istransmitted to the tray 17. The shape of a suitable flexible member foruse in the jogging device of the present invention may be seen in FIG. 3wherein the top of the flexible member may be seen. The flexible member15 of FIG. 3 may be shaped .in any manner in accordance with theflexibility desired for the particular application of the joggingdevice. The particular embodiment chosen for illustration in FIG. 3 is arelatively rectangular flexible member with the ends slightly tapered.The tapered ends 30 are attached to a stationary base showndiagrammatically in FIG. 3 at 31. A jogging tray (not shown in FIG. 3)may be secured to the flexible member 15 by attaching an arm (such as 16in FIG. 1) to the flexible member at that portion of the memberindicated by dotted lines 35.

A jogging tray suitable for use in the present invention may be seen inFIG. 4. Referring to FIG. 4, the jogging tray 17 is formed of twosurfaces 37 and 38 arranged perpendicular to each other. The tray isdivided into wells 21 by partitions 20. Documents to be aligned, shownschematically in FIG. 4 at 40, may be placed within one of the wells 21with the surfaces which are to be aligned in contact with the traysurfaces 37 and 38. The documents shown in FIG. 4 are supported on onelong and one short edge; however, the documents may be supported in aplane parallel to the surface 37 (e.g.. lying flat) with only one edgein registration with the surface 38 (in this manner, the documents wouldonly be aligned on one edge thereof). Similarly, the jogging tray 17 maybe tilted so that documents lying on their side within one of the wells21 would be forced to register one edge with the surface 38 and theother edge with One of the partitions 20. v

The operation of the device of the present invention may now bedescribed. The electromagnet is ener- Zgized by applying an alternatingcurrent to the terminals 13. The magnetic flux thus induced by thecurrent flowing in the winding 11 attracts the flexible member 15 (whichmay be made of a ferromagnetic material), thus causing the flexiblemember to travel toward the core. When the alternating current passesthrough zero and begins to reverse, the magnetic field collapses, andthe attraction between the core 10 and the flexible member 15 ceases.Accordingly, the flexible member 15 attempts to resume its originalposition.

The repeated attraction and release of the flexible member causes thelatter to vibrate. This vibratory motion is transmitted through the arm16 to the document supporting tray 17. The motion of the tray 17 isaffected by the positioning of the tray in an eccentric relationshipwith respect to the flexible member 15. The motion of the flexiblemember 15 may best be seen by reference to FIG. 5.

Referring to FIG. 5, a cross section of the flexible member 15 is shown.The cross section is similar to that shown in FIG. 1. When the flexiblemember is in position illustrated at 45, the flexible member is then atthe position it would normally be when it is not deflected or notvibrating. Positions illustrated by numerals 46 and 47, respectively,illustrate the lower and upper extremes of travel of the flexible memberwhen vibrating. If we examine FIG. 5 by choosing a reference point inthe flexible member, we may examine the type of motion and stressexperience by the flexible member. The reference point may convenientlybe chosen at the axis of rotation of the particular cross section underinvestigation. It may be noted that the motion experienced by theflexible member may be described in terms of the displacement d from theunflexed position and a rotation relative to the unflexed position.Thus, the total motion of the flexible member between the upper andlower extremes of its travel during vibration includes a lineardisplacement of 2d and a rotational displacement of 2. The particularmotion involved is caused by the unequal forces applied to the flexiblemember. Since the flexible member 15 supports the jogging table 17 in aposition displaced from the center of the flexible member, a torsionalstress is induced in the flexible member 15 in addition to the bendingstress. The combination of torsional and bending flexure results in themotion described in connection with FIG. 5. The jogging actions impartedto the documents supported by the jogging tray 17 may best be describedwith reference to FIG. 6.

Referring to FIG. 6, the jogging tray is shown comprised of theperpendicular surfaces 37 and 38. A representative document 55 is shownsupported on surfaces 37 and 38. The torsional flexure resulting in therotational displacement of the flexing member imparts to the surfaces 37and 38 a rocking motion indicated generally by the arrows 56. Thebending flex resulting in the linear displacement of the surfaces 37 and38 is illustrated generally by the arrows 57. It may be seen from FIG. 6that the document 55 is first forced against one surface (surface 37)and then a second surface (surface 38). The alternate forcing of thedocument 55 against the two alignment surfaces facilitates the rapidalignment of the document without excessive linear travel of the joggingsurface. The linear displacement illustrated by the arrows 57momentarily pulls the aligning surfaces 37 and 38 out of contact withthe document, thus adding to the jogging effect of the rotationaldisplacement.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the torsional and bending flexureswere developed by offsetting the weight of the jogging tray. Thecombined torsional and bending flexure may be induced in the flexiblemember in other ways. For example, referring to FIG. 7, a flexiblemember 60 is shown having a center tapered portion defined by the edges61 and 62, ending in a protrusion 63 which may be utilized to support ajogging tray by attachment to the area indicated in FIG. 7 within dottedlines 65. The attachment of the jogging tray to the area 65 indicated onthe flexible member 60, automatically distributes the weight unevenlyover the flexible member and will cause a combined torsional and bendingflex when the flexible member is attracted by the electromagnet.

Referring to FIG. 8, still another modification may be shown of aflexible member suitable for use in the jogging device of the presentinvention. The flexible member comprises a composite of two members 69and 70. The two members 69 and 70 are secured as shown in FIG. 8 by anysuitable means such as, for example, spot welding. A jogging tray may besecured to the flexible member at the area indicated at 71. A joggingtray connected to this area of the flexible member automaticallyprovides for an unequal weight distribution to thereby induce bendingand torsional flexure.

A symmetrical flexible member may be utilized with an equal weightdistribution while still obtaining bending and torsional flexure byoffsetting the flexible member with respect to the electromagnet asshown in FIG. 9. Referring to FIG. 9, a jogging tray is supported on aflexible member 76 so as to distribute the weight equally over theflexible member. An electromagnet 77 is positioned with respect to theflexible member 76 to exert an attracting force unequally on theflexible member. As the result of the unequal attractive force, theflexible member will undergo a bending and a torsional flex. The bendingand torsional flexure of the flexible member illustrated by the variousillustrated embodiments provide a linear and a rotational displacementto the jogging tray thus facilitating the alignment of the documentscontained on the tray with the aligning surfaces of the tray.

While the present invention has been described in connection withspecific embodiments, it will become apparent to those skilled in theart that further modifications may be made in the jogging device of thepresent invention without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

What is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States is:

1. A jogger for aligning documents comprising:

a stationary base;

a flat elongated ferromagnetic flexible member directly and rigidlysecured at each end to said stationary base, said flat flexible memberlocated in a substantially horizontal plane and having a center line insaid plane;

a jogging tray directly connected to said flexible member having a pairof penpendicular sides for containing and supporting said documents;and,

an electromagnetic means for flexing said flexible member with a bendingand torsional flex that repeatedly moves said documents against saidperpendicular sides and away from said sides, said jogging trayeccentrically located relative to said center line to cooperate withsaid electromagnetic means and facilitate the torsional displacement ofsaid jogging tray,

whereby alternate energization of said electromagnetic means results inthe alignment of the documents contained in the jogging tray byrotational and linear displacement of the tray.

2. The structure recited in claim 1 wherein said perpendicular sideseach make an included angle of less than degrees with said flat flexiblemember.

3. A jogger for aligning documents comprising.

a stationary base;

a flat elongated ferromagnetic flexible member coupled at each end tosaid stationary base;

a jogging tray coupled to said flexible member having a pair ofsubstantially perpendicularly disposed sides for containing andsupporting said documents; and,

an electromagnetic means for flexing the flexible member with a bendingand torsional flex that repeatedly moves said documents against saidperpendicular a jogging tray connected to said flexible member having apair of susbtantially perpendicularly disposed sides for containing andsupporting said documents; and,

an electromagnetic means for flexing said flexible member with a bendingand torsional flex that repeatedly moves said documents against saidperpendicular sides and away from said sides, said electromagnetic meansoffset with respect to said center line of said flexible member to applya force to said flexible member which moves it in a rotational andlinear manner,

whereby the alternate energization of said electromagnetic means resultsin the alignment of the documents contained in the jogging tray androtational and linear displacement of the tray.

5. A jogger for aligning documents comprising:

a stationary base;

a unitary flat elongated flexible plate member directly and rigidlysecured at each end to said stationary base;

a jogging tray coupled to said flexible member having a pair ofsubstantially perpendicularly disposed sides for containing andsupporting said documents; and,

an electromagnetic means for repeatedly flexing said flexible memberwith a bending and torsional flex that successfully moves said documentsagainst said perpendicular sides and away from sides, saidelectromagnetic means located below and adjacent said flexible member,said electromagnetic means and said jogging tray relatively located toapply unequal forces to a portion of said flexible member to place saidflexible member in bending and torsional flexure,

whereby the alternate energization of said electromagnetic means resultsin the alignment of the documents contained in the jogging tray by arotational and linear displacement of the tray.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,236,892 8/1917Wilson 271-89 2,624,577 1/1953 Peugnet 27189 2,629,592 2/1953 Line271-89 2,794,636 6/ 1957 Eddison et al. 271-89 X 3,029,728 4/1962 Polk27189 X 3,092,382 6/1963 Busch et al 271-89 FOREIGN PATENTS 461,01911/1949 Canada. 877,003 5/ 1953 Germany.

M. HENSON WOOD, JR., Primary Examiner. RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Examiner.

3. A JOGGER FOR ALIGNING DOCUMENTS COMPRISING. A STATIONARY BASE; A FLATELONGATED FERROMAGNETIC FLEXIBLE MEMBER COUPLED AT EACH END TO SAIDSTATIONARY BASE; A JOGGING TRAY COUPLED TO SAID FLEXIBLE MEMBER HAVING APAIR F SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULARLY DISPOSED SIDES FOR CONTAINING ANDSUPPORTING SAID DOCUMENTS; AND, AN ELECTROMAGNETIC MEANS FOR FLEXING THEFLEXIBLE MEMBER WITH A BENDING AND TORSIONAL FLEX THAT REPEATEDLY MOVESSAID DOCUMENTS AGAINST SAID PERPENDICULAR SIDES AND AWAY FROM SAIDSIDES, SAID FLAT FLEXIBLE MEMBER LOCATED SUBSTANTIALLY IN A FIRST PLANEAND HAVING A CENTER LINE IN SAID PLANE WITH SAID JOGGING TRAYECCENTRICALLY LOCATED RELATIVE TO SAID CENTER LINE TO COOPERATE WITHSAID ELECTRO/MAGNETIC MEANS AND FACILITATE THE ROTATIONAL DISPLACEMENTOF SAID JOGGING TRAY.